College of Alameda
Arts and Letters Department
Spring 2013
Mrs. Peterson-Guada speterson@peralta.edu
Website: www.alameda.peralta.edu/sarah-peterson-guada
Office location: C106-107
Office hours: MW 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Office phone: 748-2269
Psychology 1A
Introduction to General Psychology
Class Code 20285
MWF 11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Room A-213
Course Objective: To learn about our psychological underpinnings and how they affect our human behavior and mental processes. This greater personal awareness helps us to understand how we help create every aspect of our lives from the personal, social, cultural, and global.
Student Learning Outcomes:
After completing this course, you should be able to:
1) Apply multiple schools of psychology (e.g. psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, biological, and transpersonal) to personal life experience.
2) Describe effective communication and interpersonal relationship skills as outlined by clientcentered therapy.
3) Increase awareness of self, including unconscious forces, emotions, thoughts, and self-actualizing desires.
Required Text: Hockenbury, S. & Hockenbury, D.(2010). Discovering Psychology (5 th
edition).
New
York, New York: Worth Publishers. Any edition is fine.
The book is available for purchase in the campus bookstore, or you can check it out to use in the library for 2 hours by going to the Reserve Desk (go to the end of the counter on the left side of the library). Ask for the book by its title: Discovering Psychology .
1. Get assignments and study guides from website: www.alameda.peralta.edu/sarah-peterson-guada.
On the left hand side of screen, you will see under my name, the list of courses that I teach. Click on
“Psychology 1A”. On the next screen, go to the upper left hand corner to where it says “Quick Launch”.
Under “Quick Launch” you will see a link “Class Papers” highlighted in blue. Click “Class Papers” to take you to the different folders where you will find all related course information.
2. Absences: IF YOU MISS MORE THAN SIX (6) CLASS SESSIONS, THE INSTRUCTOR MAY
DROP YOU. SHOULD EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ARISE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT HER VIA EMAIL OR VOICE MAIL.
If you decide to drop the class prior to this, you must file a drop form with the Admissions & Records Office.
The last day to drop without receiving a “W” on your transcript and receive a refund is Sunday,
February 3 rd . The last day to drop and receive a “W” on your transcript is Saturday, April 27 th
.
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3. Punctuality: Roll will be taken in the beginning of class. IF YOU COME 15 MINUTES PAST
THE START OF CLASS, YOU WILL BE MARKED ABSENT.
4. Leaving Early: There must be a valid reason, and this must be approved by the instructor prior to class. OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE MARKED ABSENT.
5. No cell phone usage: Please have cell phones in OFF mode, as they keep us from being fully present and engaged with our learning and interactions with one another. If you receive an important call, please take it outside. There is no texting permitted in class. If caught using your cell phone, you will be asked
to leave the class and will be marked absent for that day. You may return to class the next session. THIS
IS YOUR FIRST AND ONLY WARNING!!!!!!!
6. No “side” talking to classmates: If talking occurs, the instructor will give student(s) one reminder of the “no talking policy”. If talking continues, the student(s) will be asked to leave class to visit the
Division Dean and must speak with Division Dean before returning to class. If talking continues, students will speak with Vice President of Student Services with the possibility of being dropped from class.
Any conversation that occurs is contributed to the entire class discussion.
7. Participation and Presence: Everyone is encouraged to speak up in class so that we are able to learn more from each other, which will yield a more interesting and fun class. We can only learn from each other when everyone is present to discuss issues, listen to each other, and share thoughts. In order to have the classroom be a comfortable setting where people want to talk, it is important at all times to respect each other’s point of view, even when we disagree.
8. Confidentiality: Psychology is a subject where people tend to disclose personal information. It is essential that this information and the associated names remain in the classroom. If discussion of information occurs outside of the class, please omit names. This will allow us to build a trusting classroom environment.
9. Student Conduct: The instructor respects each of you as a person and expects that you each extend this same respect towards your fellow classmates and her. If the instructor feels disrespected in any way, you will be referred to the Division Dean before you’re able to return to the class and also referred to the
Vice President of Student Services. For further school guidelines please refer to the “Student Conduct and Due Process Policy” section located in the College of Alameda Catalog.
10. Mediation: The policy for handling difficult behavior will include the utilization of the Division
Dean and Vice President of Student Services that may lead to a written student behavioral agreement.
11. Plagiarism: If a student copies writings from another student or author that is considered plagiarism.
Cheating or committing plagiarism may lead to such consequences as reduction in grade, suspension from class, course failure, or expulsion from the college. For details of student disciplinary procedures and the student complaint/grievance policy, see the College of Alameda Catalog.
12. Other Course Information: Psychology 1A is a 3-unit transferable course and can be applied to your
Associate Degree. This means that each week, you are expected to do 6 hours of work for the class in addition to attending class. Credit/No Credit is not available. Consult your academic advisor with further questions.
13. Programs & Services for Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability which may require classroom or test accommodations, please contact DSPS in Room D117 or call 510-748-2328. You will
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need to provide written documentation of your disability. If you think you have a disability but currently have no documentation, DSPS may be able to help you. All information will be kept confidential.
14. Receiving an Incomplete in the Class: An incomplete is designed for students who are unable to complete the course due to an unforeseen circumstance and are missing one or two major course assignments. If you feel that you are not going to complete the course successfully, due to not doing well on tests, not submitting course assignments on time or at all, then receiving an Incomplete will not be permissible. Additionally, if you feel that you would like to discuss the options for an Incomplete, this must be done prior to the last day of instruction and before finals week.
(Your overall grade will be calculated according to the following) :
Points Project
Schools of
Psychology Debate
Journal
Job Shadow Paper
Exams
Final Exam
TOTAL
30
90
100
200
100
520
***NOTE 1:
***NOTE 2:
1. Schools of psychology debate (30 points): You will be assigned one school of psychology to research. For full credit, you will need to find two articles on the internet. Once you print these articles, write the names of the websites on the top of the page, then highlight and annotate the articles (worth 10 points each). The second part of the assignment is to make your argument to the class as to why your school is ideal in describing human behavior (worth 10 points). In addition, you may also critique the other schools and how they do not accurately describe human behavior. This assignment measures
Student Learning Outcome 1.
2. Job shadow (100 points): Paper assignment to follow.
3. Journal (90 points): The journal entries are an opportunity for you to personalize the information covered in the class and become more deeply aware of yourself (including habits, tendencies, unconscious drives, past influences, emotional life, thought processes, bodily sensations, desires, personality, behavior, etc.). This assignment measures Student Learning Outcome 3. a.
You must use the provided form located on the last page of this syllabus to write or type your journal entries either by photocopying it or copying and pasting it in a word document. Other
forms and free writing without the usage of this form will not be accepted. b.
Number each entry in space provided on form (instructor is not responsible for counting your entries and you will not receive credit if they are not numbered). c.
Place each entry face up, use one form per entry, and do not print on front and back.
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d.
An adequate journal entry is at least half a page using normal writing font. When submitting them on the due date, please collate them either in a three ring binder or with a paper clip in upper left hand corner. Journals loosely held in a folder will not be graded. e.
Each week you will write approximately three journal entries. The entries do not have to correlate with class meeting times, quiz dates or holidays. For full credit, 45 journal entries are needed in an entire semester (worth 2 points each). Start journal entries this week in order to maximize the emotional and psychological benefits of this assignment. If you hold off until the end of the semester, it will be a massive project with much less personal awareness and gain.
Late journals will receive half credit.
4. Exams (200 points): There will be a total of 5 exams, one following every two chapters covered.
Each test contains 54 questions and is worth 50 points (there are 4 extra-credit questions). The instructor will sometimes mention information that is not covered in the reading that you may also be responsible for on the exams. Your lowest test grade will be dropped. Make-up tests will be given in documented emergency situations only with prior notification before the assigned quiz date – NO EXCEPTIONS!
You must contact me via email, voicemail or in person. Exams will be administered at the beginning of class. Study guides are available on the instructor’s website for all tests.
Scantron form #882E is required FOR ALL EXAMS, including the final. You can purchase scantrons in the COA bookstore.
Please also bring #2 pencil with eraser.
5. Final Exam (100 points): This will be a cumulative exam assessing your knowledge gained through the term, except chapters 13 & 14. This exam also contains 54 questions and is worth 100 points (2 points each question with four extra-credit questions). Final exam study guide is available on instructor’s website.
6. Extra-Credit (30 points): Various extra-credit opportunities exist. Some suggestions include participating in the class debate on the schools of psychology, watching a movie, volunteering at a humanitarian organization, reading a book or article related to psychology and writing a two page write up. First half of the write up should include a description of the movie, organization, or literature.
Second half of write up should describe how the information or activity impacted you and what you learned from it.
If you do not do the personal application component, you will not receive full credit.
If you choose to volunteer at an organization, please see instructor for mandatory volunteer assignment sheet. Write Up Format: double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 point font. Also, you can do a student presentation on a psychology related topic that interests you. Please get instructor approval for extracredit ideas.
7. Grades:
A – 90% and above
B – 80% - 89%
C – 70% - 79%
D – 60% - 69%
F – 59% and below
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COURSE CALENDAR: (Subject to slight variations)
* Reading is to be completed PRIOR to class meeting
WEEK DATE READING/ASSIGNMENT
1 W JAN 23 Overview of syllabus
F JAN 25 Ice Breaker; Assign School of Psychology for Debate
2 M JAN 28 Chapter 1 – Introduction to Psychology (schools/perspectives of
Psychology)
W JAN 30 Chapter 1 continued (schools/perspectives)
F FEB 1 Chapter 1 continued (schools/perspectives)
3
4
5
M FEB 4
W FEB 6
F FEB 8
DEBATE
Chapter 1 continued (professions)
Chapter 1 continued (research methods)
7
6
M FEB 11 Chapter 1 continued (research methods)
W FEB 13 Chapter 1 continued (research methods)
F FEB 15 LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY – HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE
M FEB 18 WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY – HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE
W FEB 20 Chapter 9 – Lifespan Development (Erikson)
F FEB 22 Chapter 9 continued
M FEB 25
W FEB 27
F MAR 1
M MAR 4
W MAR 6
Chapter 9 – Life Purpose Activity
QUIZ 1 (Chapters 1 & 9)
Chapter 2 – Neuroscience and Behavior
Chapter 2 continued
Chapter 2 continued
8
F MAR 8 Chapter 8 – Motivation and Emotion (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)
M MAR 11 Chapter 8 continued (video)
W MAR 13 Chapter 8 continued
(Maslow’s Obstacles to Growth – not found in book)
9
F MAR 15 QUIZ 2 (Chapters 2 & 8)
M MAR 18 Chapter 5 – Learning (classical conditioning)
W MAR 20 Chapter 5 continued (classical conditioning)
F MAR 22
10 M MAR 25
– MAR 31
Chapter 5 continued (classical conditioning)
SPRING BREAK RECESS – NO SCHOOL
11 M APR 1 Chapter 5 continued (operant conditioning)
W APR 3 Chapter 5 continued (operant conditioning)
F APR 5 Chapter 5 continued (operant conditioning)
12 M APR 8 Chapter 7 Thinking, Language, and Intelligence (2 nd half only, pp. 273-91)
W APR 10 Chapter 7 continued
F APR 12 Chapter 7 continued
13 M APR 15 QUIZ 3 (Chapters 5 & 7)
W APR 17 Chapter 6 – Memory (three-stage model of memory)
F APR 19 Chapter 6 continued
14 M APR 22 Chapter 6 continued
W APR 24 Chapter 11 – Social Psychology
F APR 26 Chapter 11 continued
15 M APR29 Chapter 11 continued
W MAY 1 QUIZ 4 (Chapters 6 & 11)
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F MAY 3 Chapter 14 – Therapies
16 M MAY 6 Chapter 14 continued; JOURNALS DUE
W MAY8 Chapter 14 continued
F MAY 10 Chapter 14 continued
17 M MAY 13 Chapter 13 – Psychological Disorders
W MAY 15 Chapter 13 continued
F MAY 17 MALCOLM X’S BIRTHDAY – HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE
18 W MAY 22 QUIZ 5 AND FINAL EXAM 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon in same classroom.
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PSYCH 1A —INTRO TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY DATE:_____________ Reflection #: _______
PSYCH 1B —INTRO TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCH 12 —HUMAN SEXUALITY NAME:________________________________
COURSE:________________ TIME:________
PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM AND USE THREE FOR EACH WEEK. FOR FULL CREDIT, 45 JOURNAL ENTRIES
ARE NEEDED IN AN ENTIRE SEMESTER (WORTH 2 POINTS EACH/TOTAL OF 90 POINTS). EACH WEEK
YOU WILL WRITE THREE JOURNAL ENTRIES WITH PROVIDED FORM.
THIS FORM MUST BE USED TO
RECEIVE CREDIT. NUMBER EACH ENTRY FOR CREDIT. WHEN SUBMITTING THEM, PLACE EACH
ENTRY FACE UP. PLEASE USE ONE FORM PER ENTRY AND NOT FRONT AND BACK. PLEASE SUBMIT
IN A THREE RING BINDER OR PAPER CLIP IN UPPER LEFT CORNER.

From what you learned this week, choose one principle of psychology that stood out to you the most and share why.

How has this principle helped change your thinking?

How does this principle impact you in your everyday life as a person?

How might this principle affect how you perceive or interact with others?
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PSYCH 1A —INTRO TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY DATE:_____________ Reflection #: _______
PSYCH 1B —INTRO TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCH 12 —HUMAN SEXUALITY NAME:________________________________
COURSE:________________ TIME:________
PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM AND USE THREE FOR EACH WEEK. FOR FULL CREDIT, 45 JOURNAL ENTRIES
ARE NEEDED IN AN ENTIRE SEMESTER (WORTH 2 POINTS EACH/TOTAL OF 90 POINTS). EACH WEEK
YOU WILL WRITE THREE JOURNAL ENTRIES WITH PROVIDED FORM.
THIS FORM MUST BE USED TO
RECEIVE CREDIT. NUMBER EACH ENTRY FOR CREDIT. WHEN SUBMITTING THEM, PLACE EACH
ENTRY FACE UP. PLEASE USE ONE FORM PER ENTRY AND NOT FRONT AND BACK. PLEASE SUBMIT
IN A THREE RING BINDER OR PAPER CLIP IN UPPER LEFT CORNER. FEEL FREE TO USE BOTH SIDES
OF THIS SHEET OF PAPER.
1. What is going on for you in your life now? Consider emotions, thoughts, your body and heart.
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